Violent robbers locked up after ripping necklaces from vulnerable women
One of the victims was a blind 68-year-old who was robbed of a present from her late husband.
Two robbers who targeted six vulnerable women in two hours by violently ripping jewellery from their necks have been locked up for a combined total of 19 years.
One of the victims was a blind 68-year-old who was robbed of a present from her late husband as she sat at a veterinary practice.
She suffered a heart attack and spent 36 hours in hospital recovering from the ordeal.
Joshua Bluck and Cameron Ball were sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court by Judge Barry Berlin, who described their crimes as ‘utterly sickening’.
WATCH: Victim describes having heart attack after robbery
Bluck drove a blue Audi A3, spotting the victims, while Ball carried out the robberies, in Burntwood, Lichfield, Walsall and Rushall.
Judge Berlin, sentencing Bluck to 12 years in prison and Ball to seven years in young offenders institute, said: “These crimes against mature women in the street are utterly sickening.
“You both attacked these women to feed your greed and did not care about the hurt and misery left in your wake.
"You cruised around looking for easy prey.
"In some ways it can be seen as a campaign, going from place to place picking out vulnerable ladies."
It started on September 29 in 2016, shortly before 1pm, when the first victim was walking in Myatt Avenue in Burntwood, said Ms Elizabeth Power, prosecuting.
The 77-year-old victim spotted Ball before ‘in a flash’ he pulled her necklace, valued at £100, from her and ran away.
Shortly after, at 1.25pm, in Upper John Street in Lichfield, a necklace worth £420 was ripped from the neck of a 56-year-old who was walking alone on her lunch break.
At 2.25pm, the pair next targeted a 70-year-old woman who was on a mobility scooter in Norton East Road in Norton Canes.
Ball pulled off a necklace she was wearing and ran off.
The jewellery was the last item her husband had bought her before he died.
“She is now afraid to open her front door,” said Ms Power.
Later, in Salters Road in Walsall Wood, a 65-year-old had a necklace worth £200 ripped off her by Ball.
The blue Audi driven by Bluck was spotted nearby by bystanders.
'I no longer trust anyone'
Afterwards, the 68-year-old blind woman, Elizabeth Smith, was attacked by Ball as she took her dog to First Vets in Leighswood Road in Aldridge.
Ball grabbed her in a headlock before taking the necklace, which was a 40th birthday present from her late husband Geoffrey.
Finally, five minutes later, in Barns Lane in Rushall, a 56-year-old was robbed of her necklace belonging to her son who died a year before.
Reading the woman's victim impact statement, Ms Power said: "I do not trust anyone, I do not take this walk anymore. I am too frightened to be in the area."
Ball and Bluck were stopped by traffic police officers who recovered the stolen items from inside Bluck’s boxer shorts.
Ball fled, but was later arrested.
Mrs Smith became blind after a bleed to the brain caused by macular degeneration 10 years ago.
She said: “I was sat in the vets and then the next thing I knew, he had me in a neck lock.
"I was so scared, I thought he might have a knife.”
Heart attack
Mrs Smith was then told by police her necklace she had worn for 26 years was missing.
She was then taken to Walsall Manor Hospital after a heart attack.
She said: “I wasn’t allowed out for 36 hours and when at home I needed someone with me.
"I go nowhere far anymore, this has ripped the confidence from me. I stay in my village from now on."
Ball, 18, of Green Rock Lane in Walsall, admitted six counts of robbery at his first court appearance.
Bluck, 25, of Peolsford Road in Pelsall, was found guilty by a jury of the same charges following a trial.
Both have previous convictions which include attempted burglary.
Defending for Ball, Mr Oliver Woolhouse said it was too early to say his client was a lost cause, asking the judge to take account for his age when sentencing.
Mr Andrew Wilkins, defending for Bluck, said his client suffered a condition which means ‘his mind does not work in the same way as others’.
Judge Berlin sentenced Bluck, who also pleaded guilty to breaching a suspended sentence, to 12 years in prison.
Ball was sentenced to seven years in a young offenders institute.
